M D Collins

Publications (271)417.25 Total impact

• Article: Phylogenetic heterogeneity of the genus Bacillus revealed by comparative analysis of small‐subunit‐ribosomal RNA sequences

  Carol Ash, J.A.E. Farrow, Sally Wallbanks, M.D. Collins
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  ABSTRACT: The small-subunit rRNA sequences of 51 species of Bacillus were determined by reverse transcription to elucidate the phylogenetic structure of the genus. Comparative analysis of the sequence data revealed five phylogenetically distinct clusters. Group 1 (Bacillus sensu stricto) included B. subtilis the type species of the genus and 27 other species. Group 2 consisted of B. sphaericus and five other bacilli and Sporosarcina ureae clustered within the confines of this group. Group 3 consisted of a phylogenetically coherent group of 10 species whereas groups 4 and 5 comprised two and three species respectively. It is evident that the genus Bacillus in genetically extremely heterogeneous and requires extensive taxonomic revision. The rRNA structures defined in the present study will provide a firm basis for the division of Bacillus into several phylogenetically distinct genera.
  Letters in Applied Microbiology 06/2008; 13(4):202 - 206. · 1.62 Impact Factor
• Article: Taxonomic studies on Corynebacterium beticola (Abdou)

  M.D. Collins, Dorothy Jones
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  ABSTRACT: Morphological, physiological and chemical studies were performed on the type strain of Corynebacterium beticola in an attempt to clarify its taxonomy. The results indicate that Corynebacterium beticola is a Gram negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium which should be assigned to the genus Erwinia as Erwinia herbicola.
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 06/2008; 52(2):229 - 233. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Reverse transcriptase sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA from Streptococcus cecorum

  A.M. Williams, J. A.E. Farrow, M.D. Collins
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  ABSTRACT: The phylogenetic position of Streptococcus cecorum was determined by reverse transcriptase sequencing of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid. Streptococcus cecorum formed a distinct group with Enterococcus faecalis (type species of the genus Enterococcus) and other enterococcal species, but was unrelated to members of the genus Streptococcus. On the basis of the present findings, it is proposed that Streptococcus cecorum be reclassified in the genus Enterococcus, as Enterococcus cecorum comb. nov.
  Letters in Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 8(5):185 - 189. · 1.62 Impact Factor
• Article: Lipids in the Classification and Identification of Coryneform Bacteria Containing Peptidoglycans Based on 2, 4‐diaminobutyric Acid

  M. D. COLLINS, DOROTHY JONES
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  ABSTRACT: Strains of 2, 4-diaminobutyric acid-containing coryneform bacteria were degraded by acid methanolysis and the non-hydroxylated fatty acid esters released examined by thin-layer and gas chromatography. The major fatty acid structural types were straight-chain, anteiso- and iso-methyl branched-chain acids. Polar lipids of the test strains were examined by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. All strains possessed very characteristic polar lipid patterns consisting of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and a number of uncharacterized glycolipids. Menaquinones (vitamin K) were the sole isoprenoid quinones detected in the test strains. Corynebacterium insidiosum, Cor. michiganense, Cor. nebraskense and Cor. sepedonicum contained unsaturated menaquinones with nine isoprene units, whereas unsaturated menaquinones with 10 isoprene units predominated in strains of Cor. iranicum and Cor. tritici and a strain labelled Arthrobacter sp. The single strain of Cor. aquaticum examined contained comparable amounts of menaquinones with 10 and 11 isoprene units whereas strains of Cor. mediolanum and Flavobacterium dehydrogenans contained major amounts of menaquinones with 11 and 12 isoprene units. The results of the present study indicate that lipid markers may be of considerable value in the classification and identification of 2, 4-diaminobutyric acid-containing phytopathogenic and saprophytic coryneform bacteria.
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 48(3):459 - 470. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Isoprenoid Quinone Composition as a Guide to the Classification of Sporolactobacillus and Possibly Related Bacteria

  M. D. COLLINS, DOROTHY JONES
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  ABSTRACT: Menaquinones with seven isoprene units were the major isoprenoid quinones detected in the chloroform-methanol extracts of representative strains of the genera Bacillus and Sporolactobacillus. Neither menaquinones nor ubiquinones were detected in similar extracts of strains of the genus Lactobacillus.
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 47(2):293 - 297. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Distribution of Isoprenoid Quinones in Halophilic Bacteria

  M. D. COLLINS, H. N. M. ROSS, B. J. TINDALL, W. D. GRANT
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  ABSTRACT: Menaquinones were the sole isoprenoid quinones found in 28 of the 34 halophilic organisms examined. Unsaturated and dihydrogenated menaquinones with eight isoprene units were found in some alkalophilic halophiles and representatives of the genera Halobacterium and Halococcus. Brevibacterium halotolerans and Micrococcus halobius possessed major amounts of unsaturated menaquinones with seven and eight isoprene units, respectively. Actinopolyspora halophila possessed complex mixtures of partially hydrogenated menaquinones with tetrahydrogenated menaquinones with nine isoprene units predominating. Vibrio costicola possessed both menaquinones and ubiquinones with eight isoprene units. Ectothiorhodospira halophila, Flavobacterium halmephilum, Paracoccus halodenitrificans and Pseudomonas beijerinkii contained ubiquinones as their sole respiratory quinones. Ectothiorhodospira halophila possessed major amounts of ubiquinones with eight isoprene units whereas ubiquinones with nine isoprene units predominated in Flavobacterium halmephilum, Paracoccus halodenitrificans and Pseudomonas beijerinkii.
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 50(3):559 - 565. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Genus Bacteroides A chemotaxonomical perspective

  H.N. Shah, M.D. Collins
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  ABSTRACT: 1. Introduction, 4032. Acid end products, 403 3. DNA base composition, 404 4. Cell walls, 404 5. Enzymes, 407 6. Lipids, 408 6.1 Pigments, 408 6.2 Fatty acids, 408 6.3 Polar lipids, 409 6.4 Menaquinones, 411 7. Taxonomic considerations, 412 8. Conclusions, 414 9. References, 414
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 55(3):403 - 416. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Phenotypic identification of the genus Enterococcus and differentiation of phylogenetically distinct enterococcal species and species groups

  L.A. Devriese, B. Pot, M.D. Collins
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 75(5):399 - 408. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Lactic acid bacteria and human clinical infection

  M. Aguirre, M.D. Collins
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 03/2008; 75(2):95 - 107. · 2.34 Impact Factor
• Article: Streptococcosis in cultured turbot, Scopthalmus maximus (L.), associated with Streptococcus parauberis

  A Domeénech, J F Derenaáandez-Garayzábal, C Pascual, J A Garcia, M T Cutuli, M A Moreno, M D Collins, L Dominguez
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  ABSTRACT: Several strains of Garm-positive short rod (coccibacilli)-shaped bacteria were isolated from diseased cultured turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), in the North of Spain with lesions and signs of Spain with lesions and signs of streptocecosis. The α-haemolytic streptoceoccus-like organisms from diseased turbot were identified by physiological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Streptococcus parauberis. This is the first report of S. parauberis associated with fish disease.
  Journal of Fish Diseases 04/2006; 19(1):33 - 38. · 2.00 Impact Factor
• Article: Phenotypic and genotypic differences between certain strains of Clostridium acetobutylicum

  S.R. Wilkinson, M. Young, R. Goodacre, J.G. Morris, J.A.E. Farrow, M.D. Collins
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract It has become evident that several of the strains of Clostridium acetobutylicum that have been employed in physiological studies of the acetone-butanol fermentation, are heterogeneous. Studies of the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of several of these strains (involving inter alia both pyrolysis mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequence determinations) demonstrated that the type strain obtained from ATCC was not identical with that supplied by NCIMB, and that NCIMB 8052T is in fact Clostridium beijerinckii. We therefore suggest that the name Clostridium acetobutylicum should be restricted to those strains that are genetically closely related to ATCC 824T (which include strains DSM 792 and DSM 1731 but not strain P262).
  FEMS Microbiology Letters 01/2006; 125(2‐3):199 - 204. · 2.04 Impact Factor
• Article: Uruburuella suis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from clinical specimens of pigs.

  A I Vela, M D Collins, P A Lawson, N García, L Domínguez, J F Fernández-Garayzábal
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  ABSTRACT: Five strains of an unusual Gram-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive, coccobacillus-shaped bacterium isolated from the lungs and heart of pigs with pneumonia and pericarditis were characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. On the basis of cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the family Neisseriaceae, although they did not appear to correspond to any recognized genus or species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the five unidentified strains were phylogenetically highly related to each other and represent a hitherto unknown subline within the family Neisseriaceae. On the basis of both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from pigs be classified as a novel genus and species within the family Neisseriaceae, for which the name Uruburuella suis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of U. suis is 1258/02(T) (=CCUG 47806(T)=CECT 5685(T)).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 04/2005; 55(Pt 2):643-7. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Corynebacterium ciconiae sp. nov., isolated from the trachea of black storks (Ciconia nigra).

  J F Fernández-Garayzábal, A I Vela, R Egido, R A Hutson, M P Lanzarot, M Fernández-García, M D Collins
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  ABSTRACT: Eight unidentified Gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms were recovered from the tracheas of apparently healthy black storks (Ciconia nigra) and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Based on cellular morphology and biochemical criteria the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus Corynebacterium, although three of the organisms did not appear to correspond to any recognized species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that all of the isolates were phylogenetically members of the genus Corynebacterium. Five strains were genotypically identified as representing Corynebacterium falsenii, whereas the remaining three strains represented a hitherto unknown subline, associated with a small subcluster of species that includes Corynebacterium mastitidis and its close relatives. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from black storks represent a novel species within the genus Corynebacterium, for which the Corynebacterium ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CECT 5779(T) (=BS13(T)=CCUG 47525(T)).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 12/2004; 54(Pt 6):2191-5. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Corynebacterium suicordis sp. nov., from pigs.

  A I Vela, A Mateos, M D Collins, V Briones, R A Hutson, L Domínguez, J F Fernández-Garayzábal
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  ABSTRACT: Nineteen strains of Gram-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacteria isolated from pigs were characterized by using biochemical, molecular chemical and molecular genetic methods. Two distinct groups of organisms were discerned, based on their colonial morphology, CAMP (Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen) reaction and numerical profile by using the API Coryne system. The first group (13 strains) gave a doubtful discrimination between Corynebacterium striatum and Corynebacterium amycolatum, whilst the second group (six strains) were identified tentatively as Corynebacterium urealyticum. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that all of the isolates belonged phylogenetically to the genus CORYNEBACTERIUM: The first group of organisms was highly similar to Corynebacterium testudinoris with respect to 16S rRNA gene sequences and physiological characteristics, whereas the remaining six isolates formed a hitherto unknown subline within the genus, associated with a small subcluster of species that included Corynebacterium auriscanis and its close relatives. The unknown Corynebacterium sp. was distinguished readily from these and other species of the genus by biochemical tests. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the new isolates from pigs should be classified as a novel species, Corynebacterium suicordis sp. nov. The type strain is P81/02(T) (=CECT 5724(T)=CCUG 46963(T)).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 12/2003; 53(Pt 6):2027-31. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Description of Enterococcus canis sp. nov. from dogs and reclassification of Enterococcus porcinus Teixeira et al. 2001 as a junior synonym of Enterococcus villorum Vancanneyt et al 2001.

  E M De Graef, L A Devriese, M Vancanneyt, M Baele, M D Collins, K Lefebvre, J Swings, F Haesebrouck
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  ABSTRACT: Strains from anal swabs and chronic otitis externa in dogs were shown to be phylogenetically related to the Enterococcus faecium species group. They shared a number of phenotypic characteristics with these species, but they could be easily differentiated by biochemical reactions. In addition, the canine strains were unusual in their nearly complete failure to grow on sodium azide-containing enterococci-selective media and in their Voges-Proskauer reactions (usually negative). By using 16S rRNA sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization of representative strains, as well as tDNA interspacer gene PCR and SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins, the group of canine strains was shown to constitute a novel enterococcal species. The name Enterococcus canis sp. nov. is proposed for this species, with LMG 12316T (= CCUG 46666T) as the type strain. Concurrently, the taxonomic situation and nomenclatural position of Enterococcus porcinus were investigated. As no phenotypic or genotypic differences were found between this species and Enterococcus villorum, the name E. porcinus is considered to be a junior synonym of E. villorum.
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 08/2003; 53(Pt 4):1069-74. · 2.27 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Jaime Potti

  Article: Corynebacterium sphenisci sp. nov., isolated from wild penguins.

  J Goyache, C Ballesteros, A I Vela, M D Collins, V Briones, R A Hutson, J Potti, P García-Borboroglu, L Domínguez, J F Fernández-Garayzábal
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  ABSTRACT: Six unidentified gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms recovered from the cloacae of apparently healthy wild penguins were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed the presence of a cell wall based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and long-chain cellular fatty acids of the straight-chain saturated and monounsaturated types, consistent with the genus Corynebacterium. Corynomycolic acids, which are characteristic of the genus, were also detected, albeit in small amounts. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies showed that the unidentified organisms were phylogenetically related to corynebacteria and represent a novel subline associated with a small subcluster of species that includes Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium amycolatum and Corynebacterium freneyi. The unknown isolates were readily distinguished from their closest phylogenetic relatives and all other Corynebacterium species with validly published names by using a combination of biochemical and chemotaxonomic criteria. Based on both phenotypic and 16S rRNA gene sequence considerations, it is proposed that the unknown isolates recovered from penguins be classified as a novel species in the genus Corynebacterium, Corynebacterium sphenisci sp. nov. The type strain is CECT 5990T (= CCUG 46398T).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 08/2003; 53(Pt 4):1009-12. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Isolation of Corynebacterium falsenii and description of Corynebacterium aquilae sp. nov., from eagles.

  J F Fernández-Garayzábal, R Egido, A I Vela, V Briones, M D Collins, A Mateos, R A Hutson, L Domínguez, J Goyache
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  ABSTRACT: Biochemical, molecular chemical and molecular genetic studies were performed on seven unidentified gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms recovered from eagles. The strains were provisionally identified as Corynebacterium jeikeium with the commercial API Coryne system, but they were able to grow under anaerobic conditions and were non-lipophilic. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the isolates belonged phylogenetically to the genus Corynebacterium. Three strains were identified genotypically as Corynebacterium falsenii; the remaining four strains corresponded to a hitherto unknown lineage within the genus Corynebacterium, associated with a small subcluster of species that included Corynebacterium diphtheriae and its close relatives. The unknown bacterial strains were readily distinguished from these and other species of the genus by biochemical tests. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterial strains from eagles should be classified as Corynebacterium aquilae sp. nov. (type strain is S-613T = CECT 5993T = CCUG 46511T).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 08/2003; 53(Pt 4):1135-8. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Psychrobacter pulmonis sp. nov., isolated from the lungs of lambs.

  A I Vela, M D Collins, M V Latre, A Mateos, M A Moreno, R Hutson, L Domínguez, J F Fernández-Garayzábal
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  ABSTRACT: Unusual Gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, coccus-shaped bacteria isolated from the lungs of two lambs were characterized by phenotypic and molecular-genetic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown isolates were genealogically highly related to each other (99.8% sequence similarity) and represent a novel subline within the genus Psychrobacter. The unknown bacterium was phylogenetically closely related to, but distinct from, Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus, Psychrobacter immobilis, Psychrobacter glacincola and Psychrobacter urativorans. The novel Psychrobacter isolates were readily distinguished from all other Psychrobacter species and other Gram-negative, oxidase-positive bacteria usually responsible for lung infections in sheep by physiological and biochemical tests. Based on molecular-genetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown Psychrobacter isolates from lambs be classified as Psychrobacter pulmonis sp. nov. The type strain is strain S-606T (=CECT 5989T =CCUG 46240T).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 04/2003; 53(Pt 2):415-9. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Corynebacterium spheniscorum sp. nov., isolated from the cloacae of wild penguins.

  J Goyache, A I Vela, M D Collins, C Ballesteros, V Briones, J Moreno, P Yorio, L Dominguez, R Hutson, J F Fernández-Garayzábal
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  ABSTRACT: Twenty unidentified Gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms were recovered from the cloacae of apparently healthy wild penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. On the basis of cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus Corynebacterium, although the organisms did not appear to correspond to any recognized species. Lipid studies confirmed this generic placement, and comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the unidentified organisms represent a hitherto unknown subline, associated with a small subcluster of species that includes Corynebacterium diphtheriae and its close relatives. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from penguins be classified in the genus Corynebacterium, as Corynebacterium spheniscorum sp. nov. The type strain is strain PG 39T (=CCUG 45512T =CECT 5986T).
  International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology 02/2003; 53(Pt 1):43-6. · 2.27 Impact Factor
• Article: Bacteriology of the Labrador dog gut: a cultural and genotypic approach

  H.L. Greetham, C. Giffard, R.A. Hutson, M.D. Collins, G.R. Gibson
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  ABSTRACT: Aims: To carry out an extensive study of the microflora composition of the Labrador dog gut. Methods and Results: Faecal specimens from four Labradors were collected and plated onto growth media designed to recover total anaerobes, bacteroides, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, clostridia, Gram-positive cocci, total aerobes and coliforms. Morphologically different isolates were collected from all agars inoculated with faeces from one canine individual (repeated four times). A total of 157 out of 171 isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Sequence analysis showed that agar selectivity was poor, especially when bacteroides and Gram-positive cocci were the targets. Bifidobacteria were not detected in any of the samples analysed, indicating their presence at low or negligible levels. The gene sequences of many of the isolates (n=45, representing 29% of the total) did not correlate with known species in the Ribosomal Database Project and EMBL databases, suggesting the presence of novel gut diversity. Conclusions: Traditional culture methods fail to reflect the bacterial diversity present in Labrador dog faeces. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study has shown the value of molecular-based methodologies for determining bacterial profiles in the Labrador dog gut microbiota, but has also exposed the limitations of purportedly selective agars.
  Journal of Applied Microbiology 09/2002; 93(4):640 - 646. · 2.34 Impact Factor